By Sadique Bamwita
Kampala
Fourteen Member States including Uganda under their umbrella Organization North- Eastern Africa Vsat Network (NAFISA), have met in Kampala to deliberate on how best they can enhance efficiency and safer skies in the Air Navigation system. The other member states include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti, and Libya among others.
The ongoing meeting began on October 14 and will climax on October 16, 2025. The meeting is being organized and hosted by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
The Director General Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Mr. Fred Bamwesigye said the meeting has brought together the fourteen member states that share geographical location in order to discuss how best they can utilize one air navigation service space without going through any protocols.
While addressing the media, Mr. Fred Bamwesigye noted that because Uganda shares air space with other thirteen member states, there is need for collaboration between member states to ensure there is efficient in provision of air navigation services especially in communication and air traffic control.
“There is efficiency when member states come together. We are obligation to make sure communication is in a single bloc in the whole world. But for us, we have already started it in our region before the whole world starts it-that is the advantage,”Mr. Bamwesigye revealed.
“NUFISAT has promoted collaboration and now we have one information system in the region hence smooth air transport system. Our engineers within the region are trained in the same way. The collaboration also brings in new technology and both our Air traffic controllers and Air communication engineers are enjoying this advantage.
Mr. Bamwesigye also said the collaboration among the fourteen member states has greatly helped member states to address the gaps in connectivity and communication that existed in the past.
“We have been able to iron out the gaps that we had in the past through collaboration. NUFASIT is a perfect example of the dividends that you get when you come together. It’s a sort of regional integration, ” Mr. Bamwesigye explained .
Mr.Bamwesigye also noted that because of efficience and safer skies in the air navigation services services among the fourteen member states, there has been a great improvement in trade and tourism revealing that 70% of the tourists come to Uganda by air transport means. He added that most of the member states produce perishable goods that have to reach the customers in a shortest time possible and air transport is always the answer.
“Air transport is an enabler of trade and tourism. In Uganda majority of our tourists travel by air transport. Therefore, safe skies and all-time arrival of aircrafts which are safe is very important for delivery of passengers in our systems in Entebbe, Nairobi, Mogadishu, Cairo, and many more.
“We have cargo increasing because of efficiency in air transport system and part of it is interconnectivity between states as far as air navigation safety is concerned,” Mr. Bamwesigye said.
Mr. Mabitsi Legodi, a member of International Air Transport Association (IATA), said the collaboration between the fourteen member states, has brought in more advanced communication adding that air traffic controllers and communication engineers are enjoying this since there is one flight information system in the region.
Mr. Harvey Gabriel who represented the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), expressed optimism that the collaboration will offer cost effective air navigation services, safer skies and air traffic management Across Africa. He added that ICAO remains committed to supporting collaborative efforts among the fourteen member states.
